The overall level of disrespect to the Preds by the majority of the posters was and is incredible. An intelligent post is as rare as a Chicago sweater at Bridgestone in 2009

What a beat down, total domination. Revenge in part for 2010, 2015, series that you got all the breaks, you got the goals in double and triple OT that easily could have swung the series the other way.

Really going to enjoy this. When does a team ever lose as bad as you did. Historical. Not even a goal on your home ice.

Time to realize the only way the "Hocks" get good again is to get as bad as you were throughout the 2000s to get the #1 picks

Enjoy your ride to the basement and have a Great summer!




- VopatsRash

Hey Tanner, good to hear from you.

All kidding aside:
1, Disrespect - really, from what I read prhases, like outplayed, out skated, out hustled have been throgly pounded in.
2. Beatdown - yeah whatever. Better team won.
3. Revenge - dumb and overused, only 3 players form the current squad were even on the 2010 roster. And wouldnt it be fair to say the better team manhandled the lesser team. I mean cups do count...
4. Historical loss, no goals on home ice - I'm sure that the Red Wings drubbing of the rangers where Tubby let in 15 straight goals in a game is the historical and worst loss ever.
5. The Hocks - as seen on JJ's page here the passion the "Hocks" fans portray shows character, passion, love for our team, and something you could use, a bit of humility. Taking the time to read every blog the passionate Chicago Blackhawks fan will complement a great effort by an opposing team or player, be extraordinarily highly critical of our home town heroes and offer opinion that is based on facts, data, and reality. I am proud to cheer for the Chicago Blackhawks and great hockey where ever it is played.

For me it's pretty simple.

In 2009...they probably overachieved and ran into men in the WIngs in WCF.

In 2011 I didn't expect them to beat Vancouver. I expected a decent showing and the core pushed hard and the Hawks were ultimately the 800 lb elephant that Canucks had a huge MENTAL block in beating because on paper that series shouldn't have gone 7 games.

In 2012 Hossa gets KO'd and unlike this series, Mike SMith was unreal and CC was letting in horrendous OT goal after OT goal.

In 2014, you lost to a better team in the WCF game 7...

This year, while on paper they might have been better, they were dominated and exposed and that should be alarming to everyone. You lose that series in 6 or 7, OK....a break here or there......not true about being swept.

Furthermore, you had ZERO effort from 95% of your roster, including coaches, who couldn't figure out how to adapt to Nashville after period 1 of game 1....numerous guys refused to engaged all series long, and you looked slow and old.........

In 2016 you lost in a toss up series vs STL in game 7....
- SteveRain

2014, a bad bounce and a blown offsides call - Hawks should have won that series, but LA was a good team. Plus Toews was not 100 percent after returning from shoulder issues (Orpik hit).

2012, that loss sucked because of an anemic pp and pk and a blown offsides call also. Plus Toews was not 100 percent after returning from concussion/injury and was totally abused in front of the net. Hawks could have won that series, but we have Brunette as our net front presence guy. No net presence and Smith was good. And we lost Shaw for three games as well as Hossa.

2016 - no comment, it was disappointing.

Josi is a great player. The others (namely Johansen, Arvidsson, and Forsberg) haven't been tested in the playoffs. We'll see how they play moving forward, but they are too dependent on getting offense from their defensemen because they only have their first line to contribute offense. They don't have the scoring depth to roll out all their lines. They've made the most of their opportunities against the Hawks because they were slow, outworked, and didn't care as much as they should have. Don't expect that to happen against other younger, faster, hungrier teams like Edmonton or Anaheim.
- TommyHawk

You do remember the Preds beat Anaheim last year.....right?

As an objective hockey fan I loved the show the Preds put on. They had it all their own way. But the Hawks were ripe for the taking with the physical aspect. And I'd love to see Nashville in the finals. But let's see them first go through the Ducks, Blues, Wild, or Sharks. All teams that will give them a taste of their own physical medicine and have better size as well. I'm also curious to see how Lavvy adapts.

You do remember the Preds beat Anaheim last year.....right?
- VopatsRash

You do remember that last year was one year ago, right?

Playing the "blame game" will get this team to where it got this year; which is nowhere. Everyone had a hand in this disaster. Bowman for crippling the team with massive contracts to aging veterans that have clearly lost a step and are no longer playing at a level commensurate with their cap impact, Q for not having his team ready to play not 1, not 2, not 3, but count em' up, 4 straight playoff games where they were outclassed by a far stretch, and lastly, the players themselves.


The D corps which was hailed as being deep and surpassing anything the team had had in recent years were caught flat footed and unaware for freight train that was barreling down the tracks. They were unable to match Nashville's speed, physicality, or, and probably most obviously their tenacity! Nashville's D Men fought for every 50/50 puck like it was their last floating plank of a sinking ship, they found and clogged every shooting lane they could see and protected their crease like it was their daughter's virginity. It was an absolute clinic on how playoff defense is supposed to be played and how it should not be played.

The forwards were a mixed bag for the most part with some of the bottom 6 grinders playing decent mostly and the top 6 all but vanishing. AA must absolutely work on his FOs. I mean I don't remember watching a player show less effort in trying to win a draw than him during this series. Andrew Shaw was not a sure FO winner but harken back to the Boston series (IIRC) and he did everything in his power to try and give himself and his team an edge at the dot even if it meant basically tackling and shielding the other man until his wingers could scrape the puck out. It wasn't pretty but it was effective at times.

Panarin is looking like the "prototypical Russian winger" goals aplenty in the regular season and nothing in the playoffs. However, he got his bonus money so you know, there's always that.

Hossa has had an amazing career and every player has those "Uh Oh" moments throughout but his ill advised, horribly executed drop pass in OT of game 3 was without question one of the worst plays I have seen in a long time. It was a bad drop pass to begin with, then you add in where it occurred on the ice and the situation (a must win) and it all jelled together to form a large stinky pile.

Toews, the Captain, the heart and soul of 3 Stanley Cups, the unquestioned leader, 1 playoff goal since 2015. Enough said.

I would hate to see Crow moved but for a team as cash strapped and with a very good back up that will be cheaper Crow must go. Hopefully Stan doesn't wait until the last minute to move him and is able to bring back a useful piece like a power forward or a young D man with some bite.

Seabrook is practically unmoveable now (on and off the ice) with that massive albatross of a deal Stan gave him.

Keith looks to have lost his desire for whatever reason but still has a relatively decent cap hit for what he CAN provide, Hammer is a warrior and a very good shut down D man when paired with the right player and it isn't Oduya any longer. Kempny should be kept and given a bigger role next year as he is clearly a better option than most of what is toiling away in the Rock.

In the end I suspect Crow and probably one other of the core to be moved. The Hawks need some speed and some fire innected in to a team that looks like it is sorely lacking in both. Can Stan pull it off? I'm not holding my breath.

Here's to another long summer!

Your honor, I rest my case. Bless his heart if he had two clues he would take them out and play with them

I think the sleeping with the cousin thing hit too close to home with you. You should probably speak with someone confidentially.

The overall level of disrespect to the Preds by the majority of the posters was and is incredible. An intelligent post is as rare as a Chicago sweater at Bridgestone in 2009

What a beat down, total domination. Revenge in part for 2010, 2015, series that you got all the breaks, you got the goals in double and triple OT that easily could have swung the series the other way.

Really going to enjoy this. When does a team ever lose as bad as you did. Historical. Not even a goal on your home ice.

Time to realize the only way the "Hocks" get good again is to get as bad as you were throughout the 2000s to get the #1 picks

Enjoy your ride to the basement and have a Great summer!




- VopatsRash

Ahh.....the typical card.....no Hawk fan existed prior to 2008. Congrats on that.

Preds were the better team, and deserve credit. No excuses were to be made.

But I would be cautious to poke at an organization that has had a dominate run the past decade and once you guys reach a WCF maybe you can gloat a little more...until then best of luck to you as you have a fun team to watch. Reminds me of a team I watched back in 2009.....

As a fan of hockey, I can appreciate a great team and that's the Hawks. They deserve a mulligan from fans/media etc for the last 10 years. Keeps yo heads up!

Root for Rangers now lol

>posted this one the other blog in response to 6628 & Rick J
>I think Lavy studied how Winnipeg played the Hawks the first 4 (?) games this year in the regular season -- believe the Jets won the first 4 games and the Hawks barely scored at all
>Then Lavy probably had some video sessions with his players and said -- "OK, you are Jets player X, etc. -- play the way he did against the Hawks."
>Agree on Q: a players' coach who can ride a great thoroughbred -- and I think being a players' coach caught up with him -- and Bowman -- who "trusted" this core too much
>The Hawks D have had terrible habits since most of last year, but they certainly do not appear to have been corrected.
>Some include: the pairings -- having #2 and #4 together and #4 on his right side -- you can count on one hand the number of forehand direct passes #4 made each game to a forward
>Keith's refusal to actually take all the open ice given to him and instead stand still with the puck, Keith's inability to skate with the puck for more than 3 strides
>The D constantly getting too wide in their own zone -- outside the dots -- when passing the puck D to D -- so easy to forecheck when a Dman is near the boards
>There's a ton more D stuff, but F it
>The inept PP and PK
>The pathetic team face-off ability
>PP, PK, Face-Offs can all be "coached up"
>This was a total org-an-I-zation fail -- something is indeed very wrong
>When players do not play for each other and stick up for each other
>The only player I would absolutely not trade is Patrick Kane
- SnapitUpstairs

good observation about the Winnepeg similarities, because it did feel like that type of game.
So Q should have viewed some tape how to beat Winnepeg, lol. Or study film on how best to get a puck to the net and be lose, flip shots from the point that the goalie can see or missing the net on a blaster are not going to do it.

The overall level of disrespect to the Preds by the majority of the posters was and is incredible.
- VopatsRash

Hahaha this is great... dancing on the grave of the team you just KO'd not 24 hours ago in the name of respect...

Couldn't agree more JJ. We are going to expect the man who created this mess to now fix it? Sorry, but my confidence is lacking. Just a few things that come to mind that the esteemed Stan Bowman needs to answer:

Giving Seabrook - a slowly declining defenseman on the wrong side of 30 an 8 years contract for almost 7 million a year. I know some will say they had to pay him because another team would give him that much money or more. I don't buy it. Who would have given him that kind of money?

Giving Anisimov a 4.5 million dollar contract for 5 years before he even played a game for you. Even worse, was giving him a no trade clause. Seriously? A no trade clause for friggin Artem Anisimov.

Trading for Tomas Jurco. Yeah, I know we gave up nothing, but how many times did Bowman trade picks or decent assets for a guy that Q wouldn't even play? Same as last year when they traded for Weise, who almost never cracked the lineup and Fleishman, who played regularly at first, but then quickly was out of the lineup

Trading for Oduya. Did Bowman not learn that trading for an aging defenseman, especially one coming off of injury (think the guy they got from Philly whose name escapes me for some reason) was not a good idea.

The Sharp fiasco, where he waited too long to get anything for him, then had to throw in a decent player in Johns just to get someone to take him.

The Trevor Daley fiasco.

I could go on, but you get the point. I'm not saying Stan didn't make any good moves as a GM. He has, but to me, they are clearly outweighed or negated by some of these other moves. The big money contracts to some of these guys were bad enough, but then to give out no movement clauses to guys like Anisimov is just ridiculous. The only guys on that team that I can see having a no movement clause were Toews, Kane and Keith. Period.

You could certainly be right, I don't know if there is a clear cut path to recovering from this debacle.
- DarthKane

And when I talk about this change - there is a right way to go about it. No one should be tarred and feathered as they're ushered out the door. If it's decided that Stan or Q should be moved - then it should be done with class - and in a manner that lets them retain some role in the organization if they should so desire. Same with a player - thank you for your service - we've worked a deal out with a team that you identified as being a good fit for you and your family...

Top flight organizations not only have the guts to admit they need to change - but they do so in a way that upholds their character - and their values. Throughout all of this - there's one man who I don't question - and that's Mr. Rocky Wirtz. Leadership starts at the top - and we're very fortunate to have him as the owner of this team.

You do remember the Preds beat Anaheim last year.....right?
- VopatsRash

And you remember that Nashville was outplayed and outscored in that series, right?

And death, taxes, and Ducks losing in Game 7.

A rematch this year would result in an Anaheim win.

Taking a step back....there are 30 NHL teams all trying to win the cup. Only one can every year. We can't win them every year...no team in the history of sports has won every year. It's not our right to win it every year. 3 Cups in 7 years...in the Cap era, is a great accomplishment.

We now just wait and see what they do this offseason.

Your honor, I rest my case. Bless his heart if he had two clues he would take them out and play with them

I think the sleeping with the cousin thing hit too close to home with you. You should probably speak with someone confidentially.
- VopatsRash

For your own good please leave this forum. You are spewing nonsense.

And get whatever rash you have taken care of.

John, We don't call it "spin" when we all (including you) bought into the team just ten days ago.

Most folks on this blog seem to completely forget all but the last four games. There is a larger body of evidence that this team is a credible, talented and competitive team that simply did not play with the same grit and determination, from coach to goalie, as the other team.

BECAUSE WE DID NOT SUDDENLY BECOME SLOWER AND LESS TALENTED THAN THE PREDS AND HALF THE LEAGUE OVERNIGHT.

The answer is in the locker room and the dysfunction within. This simply does not happen with a team of this pedigree so we need to know why and flesh it out.

For your own good please leave this forum. You are spewing nonsense.

And get whatever rash you have taken care of.
- TommyHawk

I suggest everyone get a thicker skin and ignore the trolls - because after this series - they're going to be thick.

Damn, a Nashville fan talking trash............

Something you don't see everyday.

There will be changes and there needs to be. I believe Crawford needs to go not because i am a hater but his contract hurts I have never thought he was a 6 million dollar goalie. I don't think he is as quick side to side as Darling and his contract is up and you aren't going to sign him for peanuts again. You as usual need the cap space. The kids were not ready for that type of hockey and Nashville was they got outplayed period. The Hawks have still never filled the LW 1st line spot. They talk about it a lot this player that player but it never really got filled. The special teams have never been able to get on track consistently seems like ever and the hawks inability to win face offs was huge. If you cant win a face off and control the puck in the playoffs you are behind the 8-ball immediately. There is blame everywhere and always is unless you win it all.

>posted this one the other blog in response to 6628 & Rick J
>I think Lavy studied how Winnipeg played the Hawks the first 4 (?) games this year in the regular season -- believe the Jets won the first 4 games and the Hawks barely scored at all
>Then Lavy probably had some video sessions with his players and said -- "OK, you are Jets player X, etc. -- play the way he did against the Hawks."
>Agree on Q: a players' coach who can ride a great thoroughbred -- and I think being a players' coach caught up with him -- and Bowman -- who "trusted" this core too much
>The Hawks D have had terrible habits since most of last year, but they certainly do not appear to have been corrected.
>Some include: the pairings -- having #2 and #4 together and #4 on his right side -- you can count on one hand the number of forehand direct passes #4 made each game to a forward
>Keith's refusal to actually take all the open ice given to him and instead stand still with the puck, Keith's inability to skate with the puck for more than 3 strides
>The D constantly getting too wide in their own zone -- outside the dots -- when passing the puck D to D -- so easy to forecheck when a Dman is near the boards
>There's a ton more D stuff, but F it
>The inept PP and PK
>The pathetic team face-off ability
>PP, PK, Face-Offs can all be "coached up"
>This was a total org-an-I-zation fail -- something is indeed very wrong
>When players do not play for each other and stick up for each other
>The only player I would absolutely not trade is Patrick Kane
- SnapitUpstairs

Good morning SIUP

--Exchanged texts last night with a reputable guy I know and he said similar....

--Agreed on Kane....I'd very much look at what price I could get for 72. I don't see the want "to" for a team prize vs the want to for individual glory. Very hard to respect a guy like that in the room.

--100% agreed on Keith. Many guys on this team need to actually put in the work to tweak their nuances and improve their games. The only one who seem to get BETTER each year is 88.

--On Tuesday, it was reported an off day by Q for players to "get away from each other". Is that a hint, a Freudian slip, or just a general quote? LIke you I 100% think there is more to this melt down then a failure of adapting to X/Os or injuries to guys......1st time this core or team since 19/88 era truly failed to raise game to compete level and truly mailed it in.

--I'd really look at who my captains are.....I'd make 88 an "A". Guy brings it every game, and takes blame when he fs up. He puts in the work......he's a leader.

--Lastly, it's the Hawks turn to adapt to todays' NHL vs then rest of the league adapting to them. They need to realize where the league is heading and adapt their roster, their system, and their organizational philosophy. Will the arrogance and egos allow this? Or will they think they just had "one bad week". That to me is the biggest tell going forward this summer.

--outside of 88, all guys I would listen to. Sometimes complacency sets in and a shake up is needed....not just with coaching. If "One goal" is truly organizational wide, then this result unprecedented in past decade, can't be tolerated or whisked away without a major move(s)

I completely understand our defense situation. Not pretty.

And the Preds have a terrific defensive corps led by one of the most underrated players in the league.

But you really think Johansen or Forsberg are franchise players? In Nashville's case yes, but they aren't the best players on most teams in the NHL.
- TommyHawk

Tommy, Forsberg is a franchise two way forward in my objective opinion.

Good morning SIUP

--Exchanged texts last night with a reputable guy I know and he said similar....

--Agreed on Kane....I'd very much look at what price I could get for 72. I don't see the want "to" for a team prize vs the want to for individual glory. Very hard to respect a guy like that in the room.

--100% agreed on Keith. Many guys on this team need to actually put in the work to tweak their nuances and improve their games. The only one who seem to get BETTER each year is 88.

--On Tuesday, it was reported an off day by Q for players to "get away from each other". Is that a hint, a Freudian slip, or just a general quote? LIke you I 100% think there is more to this melt down then a failure of adapting to X/Os or injuries to guys......1st time this core or team since 19/88 era truly failed to raise game to compete level and truly mailed it in.

--I'd really look at who my captains are.....I'd make 88 an "A". Guy brings it every game, and takes blame when he fs up. He puts in the work......he's a leader.

--Lastly, it's the Hawks turn to adapt to todays' NHL vs then rest of the league adapting to them. They need to realize where the league is heading and adapt their roster, their system, and their organizational philosophy. Will the arrogance and egos allow this? Or will they think they just had "one bad week". That to me is the biggest tell going forward this summer.

--outside of 88, all guys I would listen to. Sometimes complacency sets in and a shake up is needed....not just with coaching. If "One goal" is truly organizational wide, then this result unprecedented in past decade, can't be tolerated or whisked away without a major move(s)
- SteveRain

Hey Rain, you and Snap are all over it. Nice post.

Damn, a Nashville fan talking trash............

Something you don't see everyday.
- cap1681

That's why there is only one lonely sole....

As far as to who is to blame......

1. I think this is a GREAT wake up call for an organization that has been sky high since 2009, and rightfully so. In 2012 they could rebuild on the fly and tweak this or that. Now? Cap is real, room is not there, and you will have subtract a significant piece to get complaint and HOPE you have an internal solutions or targeted CHEAP eternal solutions to get "right".

2. Look at legit young talent that has gone elsewhere. Why? Playing woulda, coulda, shoudla is dangerous, but Kevin Hayes or Vesey would like nice right now over a Schamltz or Rasmussen or even Hartman (who laid a fat turd the past 4 games). Was it being blocked? Was it something else?

3. Decisions on SHaw, Leddy, and Saad. Saad and Leddy wanted money, but decisions were made to keep OUR guy vs THAT guy and it's left them older and slower. panarin subs for Saad, but for all his bonus money, 72 was one of the most disengaged players on the ice all 4 games his quote post game was pure BS.

THis team had zero guys willing to go to the net and score the "hard" playoff goals that advance you deep in the spring.......

4. Bowman/Q are both accountable. If 1 goes, the other should go, but he power struggle games will begin shortly.

5. Players....to a man something stinks in that locker room. IS it wages and guys in middle of pack or lower knowing they are expendable thanks to heavy top end dollars? Is it leadership? Have they tuned out Q? I don't know what it is but since they got their "rest" all have been pure dog poop and that can't be ignored. Coaches are to blame but players after all that talk gave nothing back or showed zero heart or character that my friends.....is the most ALARMING thing I see right now as this season has come crashing to an end.
- SteveRain

As Hans Landa would say, "That's a bingo". Guys who, their entire careers, have given high effort in the playoffs all of a sudden show nothing. That tells me one of two things: they are either hurt or sending a signal to the guy who signs their checks that they have tuned out the message bringer in the locker room. And they can't all be hurt.......